Zee/Bollywood strike over late wage payments

Blackout in Bollywood as workers go on strikeshoots hit

MUMBAI: The wheels of Mumbai's film and television industry came to a grinding halt on Wednesday as nearly 1.5 lakh cine workers supported by leading stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan went on an indefinite strike from Wednesday.

The agitation is in response to the call given by Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), which controls 22 unions covering various crafts associated with the film industry.

Filmcity, Mehboob, Filmistan and other studios in the city wore a deserted look as lightmen, spotboys, junior artistes, other technicians as well as many lead actors stayed away from the sets. About 40 film shoots were hit, besides a host of soaps.

Shooting at Balaji Telefilms, the largest content provider for television, did not take place. Spokespersons of entertainment channels Star Plus, Colours and Zee said shooting for their daily soaps today was cancelled .

Ironically, the strike is not to demand a hike in wages (cine workers get Rs600 a day and TV workers get Rs540 a day) but to ensure they get it on time.

'The workers get a minimal amount and if even that is not given on time, how do you expect them to survive in these times of inflation? Only about 5% of producers pay workers on time. Others delay payments by three to four months. This is not a strike, it is a non cooperation movement,' said Dinesh Chaturvedi, head of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).